Ski band



Oct. 18, 1966 M. K. WALLACH 3,279,008

SKI BAND Filed Nov. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR. #416? K. M41146 ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 M. K. WALLACH 3,279,008

SKI BAND Filed Nov. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K w/9Z4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,279,008 SKI BAND Mark K. Wallach, Rockford, Mich., assignor to Wolverine Shoe & Tanning Corporation, Rockford, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 412,979 2 Claims. (CI. 24-16) This invention relates to snow skiing equipment, and more particularly to a device for holding skis in a bound condition, back-to-back.

Carrying skis, especially when the skier is loaded with boots, ski poles, and other items, is a cumbersome, frustrating task. The skis constantly tend to criss-cross. Presently, in efforts to overcome some of this difliculty, a combination rubber band and metal ring structure is employed by some skiers to bind the skis together. This device is difiicult to attach since the rubber band must be tightly stretched around and held while the split rings are carefully interconnected. It is even more difficult to remove, especially for ladies. Further, they constantly wear out and break, especially after a hot summer when the rubber deteriorates. Moreover, the metal rings scratch the skis, especially if the band should be slid along the skis.

Furthermore, once the skier is on the slopes and ready to ski, the band must be stored somehow. This is exceedingly difiicult, especially with the pocketless, skin-tight pants employed by lady skiers today.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unique ski binder that eliminates all of these prior disadvantages, and achieves complete, tight binding action in a unique fashion. The novel device holds the skis efiectively, backto-back, yet without stretching thereof prior to or during attachment. It is simple to attach, even by ladies and girls. It requires no mechanical skill to use it. The novel band wears for an extensive period of time. It further will not break or snap. The band material is soft on the skis and cannot scratch or otherwise damage them, even if slid back and forth. It can be readily and easily removed from the skis with little effort, yet holds tenaciously when not being removed. It is aesthetically appealing, in contrast with prior devices. It can be readily carried unattached to the skis without placing it in ones pocket.

These and several other objects of this invention will become apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of skis held by the first form of the novel band;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel band of FIG. 1, shown twisted, to illustrate pertinent portions on the opposite ends and sides thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mode of attachment of the first form of novel band to a pair of skis;

FIG. 4 is an elevational View of the band in FIGS. 1-3, forming a closed loop;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first form of the band shown carried on the arm of the skier when not in use on the skis;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second form of novel band; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the second form of band around a pair of skis shown in section.

First form Referring now specifically to the drawings, the first form of the novel band 10 is shown in FIG. 1 employed in combination with a pair of skis 12 and 14, positioned back to back. Band 10 is an elongated strip of thin, flexible material, relatively non-stretching in character, preferably tanned pigskin. The band has two opposite faces ice 18 and 20, and two opposite ends 22 and 24. On face 20 adjacent end 24, and extending inwardly thereof, is a strip of fastener material 26 containing either minute hooks or loops, preferably of the material commonly known as VELCRO. As shown, strip 26 contains loops, generally in the form of intertangled fibers adhered to a cloth ribbon. The strip has a length substantially equal to the width of a ski, but slightly longer for purposes to be explained hereinafter. The total band has a length about equal to three times the width of the ski, or more accurately about one and one-half times the circumference around the two skis placed back to back.

On the opposite end 22 and the opposite face 18 of the band is a second strip 28 of fastener material, here shown to contain the hooks for engagement with loops in strip 26. These hooks are commonly formed by splitting relatively rigid, elongated, but tiny plastic loops at the outer ends thereof, adjacent the bight, so that, when pressed into the intertangled loop containing fibers in strip 26, the hooks catch in the loops. Due to the great number of books and loops, the engagement forms a secure connection having tremendous tenacity against shear, i.e., in the direction coplanar of the material, to prevent accidental disengagement therebetween. As is known however, the materials can be separated readily when the one is pulled in a direction normal to the other.

Strip 28 is terminated short of the actual end 22 to leave a definite and necessary tab 22' at this end of the 'band. Strip 28 is normally also somewhat shorter than strip 26, although being approximately the width of the ski, for optimum engagement in the overlapping area when the band is being used. The difference in length of strips 28 and 26 is due to the fact that for different width skis, the band will be overlapped varying amounts and, by extending strip 26 longer than strip 28, a full coincidence will always occur over the length of strip 28.

On the face 20 of the band, but on end 22 so as to be opposite to strip 28, is a decorative indicia here shown to be the trademark symbol W (30) representing the manufactnrer-assignee hereof. This indicia is adjacent tab 22 and enables the user to readily determine which end of the band is to be exposed for convenient usage and exposure of tab 22.

During use therefore, the skier lays end 24 onto the surface of one ski, across its width, as shown in FIG. 3. He retains this end as by pressing it against the ski with his finger or thumb 34, and then pulls the other end 22 around the skis (as indicated by the arrow) to overlap strip 28 with strip 26, and press them together, causing the engagement. Preferably, two strips are used at the opposite ends of the skis. Since they are identical, only one is shown. The skis are thus securely bound and retained in neat back-to back fashion.

To remove the strip, tab 22' is merely grasped, since it does not engage (as illustrated in FIG. 4). By pulling in the direction indicated by the arrow, in other Words, substantially normal to the planes of the band ends, the ends are disengaged for removal. If the skier is on the slopes, or he wishes to store the unit in a convenient place, he may merely wrap it around his wrist and re-engage it as illustrated by band 10 on the wrist 40 in FIG. 5. Its use is thus convenient and simple. In fact, the simplicity of the device is one of its chief attributes. It replaces complex devices, while achieving the results thereof in a superior fashion.

Second form In FIGS. 6 and 7 is illustrated a second form of the novel ski binding strap. This strap 50 or band, is preferably made of the same tanned pigskin leather material as the first form. It is elongated, and has one end 52 formed into a doubled-back loop sewn at stitches 54. This loop extends around one side of a rigid ring 56, as of metal or plastic, and generally rectangular in configuration. The opposite end of the band is tapered to form a terminal tab 58.

Adhered to the band are strips 60 and 62 forming the cooperative segments of Velcro connecting material. These are both adhered to the same side of this band, near the tab end. Preferably the loop containing material, normally in the form of intertangled fibers adhered to a cloth ribbon, is adjacent the tab end opposite the buckle loop 56. It preferably terminates short of the end to leave a pull tab which does not fasten. Immediately adjacent and aligned with this first strip is a longer strip ,of hook containing material 60 of the type previously described with the first form of the invention. It has a great number of plastic hooks mounted to a cloth ribbon adhered to the hand.

To attach this second form of band around a pair of skis, it is wrapped around skis 12 and 14 with the trademark insignia 70 outwardly. Tab 58 is inserted through loop 56 and then doubled 'back so that this entire end of the band is doubled back upon itself (as in FIG. 7) and pulled tightly around the skis. The free end with strip 62 is then pressed down into engagement with strip 60 of the fastening material, to secure the band. This second form of band is capable of being more readily pulled tight than the first. Since any force tending to pull the skis apart will be in shear with respect to fastening strips 60 and 62, these will not pull apart, but will retain the assembly in proper relationship.

As previously, normally two of these bands are used on a pair of skis, but since they are identical, only one is shown for purposes of convenience.

This second form of band need not be as long as the first form, and essentially has a length equal to the peripheral circumference around the two skis, plus an amount equal to about the length of strip 62 or a little more, i.e., enough for full attachment of strip 62 to strip 60.

It is conceivable that certain minor details in the structure such as its particular design or configuration could be modified somewhat within the scope of the concept presented. Also, it will be readily understood that the hooks and loops could be interchanged on opposite ends of the band, provided that the tab 22' is always maintained on the outermost end for removal of the band. Therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures to those defined therein.

I claim:

1. A ski binder for retaining a pair of skis aligned back-to-back, comprising: an elongated flexible band of tough, tanned leather having a length substantially more than the circumference of the back-to-back skis; a loop attached to one end of said band, coplanar therewith, and with a width greater than the band width at its second end, to receive said second end; a first elongated strip of fastening material extending from the second end portion of said band, opposite said one end, on one face thereof; a second elongated strip of cooperative fastening material adjacent the end of said first strip on the same face of said band as said first strip, and generally between said first strip and said loop; one of said strips containing hook elements and the other containing loop elements; and said band being flexible between said strips to be doubled back upon itself for engagement of said strips with said second end passed through said loop.

2. A ski binder for retaining a pair of skis aligned backto-back, comprising: an elongated flexible band having a length substantially more than the circumference of the back-to-back skis; a loop attached to one end of said band, coplanar therewith, and with a width greater than the band width at its second end, to receive said second end; a first elongated strip of fastening material extending from the second end portion of said band, opposite said,

one end, on one face thereof; a second elongated strip of cooperative fastening material adjacent the end of said first strip on the same face of said band as said first strip,

and generally between said first strip and said loop; one of said strips containing hook elements and the other con-,

taining loop elements; and said band being flexible to be doubled back upon itself for engagement of said strips with said second end passed through said loop.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,093 2/ 1953 Boyles 24-203 X 3,000,384 9/ 1961 Piers 24-204 X 3,009,235 11/1961 'De Mestral.

3,086,529 4/1963 Munz 128327 3,112,496 12/ 1963 Dritz- 3,134,152 1 5/1964 Pei 24-203 X BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SKI BINDER FOR RETAINING A PAIR OF SKIS ALIGNED BACK-TO-BACK, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE BAND OF TOUGH, TANNED LEATHER HAVING A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BACK-TO-BACK SKIS; A LOOP ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID BAND, COPLANAR THEREWITH, AND WITH A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE BAND WIDTH AT ITS SECOND END, TO RECEIVE SAID SECOND END; A FIST ELONGATED STRIP OF FASTENING MATERIAL EXTENDING FROM THE SECOND END PORTION OF SAID BAND, OPPOSITE SAID ONE END, ON ONE FACE THEREOF; A SECOND ELONGATED STRIP OF COOPERATIVE FASTENING MATERIAL ADJACENT THE END OF SAID FIRST STRIP ON THE SAME FACE OF SAID BAND AS SAID FIRST STRIP, AND GENERALLY BETWEEN SAID FIRST STRIP AND SAID LOOP; ONE OF SAID STRIPS CONTAINING HOOK ELEMENTS AND THE OTHER CONTAINING LOOP ELEMENTS; AND SAID BAND BEING FLEXIBLE BETWEEN SAID STRIPS TO BE DOUBLED BACK UPON ITSELF FOR ENGAGEMENT OF SAID STRIPS WITH SAID SECOND END PASSED THROUGH SAID LOOP. 